But my feelings changed to disgust and terror when I saw the whole man slowly emerge from the window. He began to crawl down the castle wall above the dreadful abyss, face down with his cloak spreading out around him like great wings. At first I could not believe my eyes. I thought it was some trick of the moonlight, some weird effect of the shadows. But I kept looking, and my eyes were not playing tricks. I saw the fingers and toes grasp the corners of the stones where they stuck out from the wall. By using every projection and hand-hold in this way, he moved downwards very quickly, just as a lizard moves along a wall.

What sort of man is this, or what kind of creature is it, who looks like a man? I feel the dread of this horrible place overpowering me. I am afraid, very afraid, and there is no escape for me. I am surrounded by terrors that I dare not think of.

15 May. --Once more I have seen the count go out in his lizard fashion. He moved downwards and sideways, going down about a hundred feet, and a good way to the left. He vanished into some hole or window. When his head had disappeared, I leaned out to try and see more, but there was nothing. The distance was too great to allow me to see properly. I knew he had left the castle. Then I thought I would use the opportunity to explore more than I had dared to do until now. I went back to the room. Taking a lamp, I tested all the doors. They were all locked, as I had expected, and the locks were quite new.

Vocabulary:

Emerge: Come out
Abyss: A depth that goes down a long way
Weird: Strange and ghostly
Grasp: Hold on to
Projection: something which sticks out
Dread: Fear and horror